She is a piece of history, a strand of connective tissue that stretches through musical decades: from the old San Jose Symphony's days as a community orchestra, which Mazzanti joined at age 20 in 1953, while majoring in music at San Jose State College; through its 20-year ``golden era'' under conductor George Cleve; its 2002 bankruptcy filing; and the birth last year of the new orchestra with many of the same musicians but a far shorter schedule and a fancier name.I took trombone lessons when I attended the Schallenberg Elementary School in the San Jose Unified School District (a long time ago) and "Miss Mazzanti" was our music teacher. Our "orchestra" met in the school cafeteria each week, in an era when each school had a music program and many students took instruments or voice lessons at school. Mazzanti is a character - but in the best sense of the word. She could be a tough teacher - she once told me that if I wouldn't be quiet that she would "make a bow-tie out of my trombone" - but I have nothing but good memories of my early experience in music under her guidance. Thank you "Miss Mazzanti!" Several students loaned me CDs of their music or music they like during the past few weeks. Thanks! I'm currently listening to a Yellow Magic Orchestra recording that Chris Chong loaned me. (To my son Brandon at UCLA: The "happy song" by YMO that you played for me is on this recording: "Behind the Mask") Completely unrelated
Tuesday is very important day for California.
Regardless of your views on the issues I urge you in the strongest terms to vote on Tuesday. In our democracy every citizen has a responsibility to take elections seriously, carefully consider the issues, and then vote.
If you are a first-time voter you may have questions about the process. If you don't know where to get answers, ask me and I'll try to help.
Students occasionally ask me to take positions on election issues in class. I will not do this, even though I do hold strong views - particularly on this election - and feel passionately that this election holds great dangers for public education. However, I'm willing to discuss this topic outside of class with individual students - and you can easily figure out my thinking and how I'll vote with a few clicks that will take you to non-college web sites.
Not sure where to vote?
You can use the following form to look up your voting place.
As a result of concerns regarding confidential information in the Staff/Facutly Mailroom, students are no longer allowed entry to the Staff/Faculty mailroom. Students may drop off material for faculty in the Student Mail Drop for Faculty in the lobby of the Administration building. Items placed in the drop box are picked up and placed in mailboxes at 9 a.m. and 5 p.m Monday-Friday.What this means is that if you need to leave materials for me you will either need to use the drop box as described above, drop materials off in the Creative Arts Division office (A-47), or slide them under my office door.